The Adventures Of Blah, Blah, Blah

Monthly Archives: January 2018

I’m at the Denver airport, coming back from LA being a TV star. I’m sitting on a hard chair, waiting for my flight back to the DMI, sipping at a cup of coffee. I watch the people walking by. Waiting for flights. Sitting looking bored. I notice a trend. Everybody’s on their phone. I think of the phrase “Your Phone Is Your God.” For most, that is the truth. Such a common addiction for us all, and I’m included. I try to stay off of it as much as possible, but it’s difficult being a real estate agent. I’ve tried a number of tricks, maybe you can use to curb your addiction as well. Turn off your phone when working. I find I can focus better when it’s off while bartending. Nobody wants to see their bartender on their phone, ignoring them, when all they want is a drink after a long day working for the Man. Also, and here’s a good one: NEVER get on your phone when you’re around people. Difficult, I know. Go to the bathroom, and check it there. Whatever you have to do so no one will see you on it. I guarantee if you implement this rule, you’ll curb your addiction. And also, give focus to the moment. I can’t stand it when I’m talking to someone and they’re constantly checking their phone. It’s rude in my opinion, and tells me that whoever is texting them is more important than me. And I need ALL THE ATTENTION, obviously.

I’m in the airport, and I’m noticing another trend. I notice, the moment a person is not talking with a person, or engaged in an activity, they pull out their phone from their tight pocket. Girls keep their phone in their back pocket, I’ve noticed.

I’m constantly learning, and crafting a better me. How do I do it? Well, I try to be in the moment as much as possible. NOTHING is more important than where you’re at, and the things around you. When you’re on your phone checking Instagram, Facebook, reading the news, it SUCKS YOU into a distant reality. One that sends your mind away from the present moment. I believe, because we’re constantly on our phone, we’ve lost a focus in our interactions with other humans. When was the last time you gave complete attention to your friend, instead of posting some selfie on Social Media? We, as a whole, have forgotten how to listen to each other. And here’s my point. People are feeling IGNORED for the most part because of this lack of focus, and lack of respect to the person they’re talking with. Instead of listening and acting/reacting to the person in front of us, we are addicted to the thought that someone more important might be texting or emailing us. Turn off your phone, and be in that moment. You will find that if you listen to people, they will be more willing to listen and give you attention. And let me tell you, listening is an art form, and I don’t exaggerate. Here’s how it works: Someone is talking to you, and in the middle of what they’re saying, you start formulating what you’re going to say, believing that it’s more important than what they’re saying. And if you’re in the market to learn something, YOU CAN’T LEARN WHEN YOU’RE TALKING. This is a technique actors should use. When someone is telling you a story, listen, and when they’ve said the very last thing from their “monologue,” react to that final thought. It’s challenging, but when people feel like you’re actually listening to what they’re saying, and honestly reacting to what they’re saying, instead of formulating some story to one-up them, I guarantee you will get further in this life. Even on a subconscious level, they will feel you’re listening, and naturally like you more. If you don’t think that in this world gathering friends instead of enemies is essential to your success, you’re wrong. It’s the key ingredient, and when you learn how to do it, you will master the art of communication. And if you have great communication skills, it’s pretty much all you need to succeed. I know this is complicated to implement, but you can practice with everyone you encounter, whether it be your friend, or the convenience store clerk.

Instead of your phone as your God, turn it off, immerse yourself in the moment, and make the NOW be your God.

And if you want the final trick to solve your phone addiction, delete ALL Social Media. Impossible? Nope. I did it recently and my life is, without a doubt, easier, gives me abundantly more peace of mind, and more time to imagine the kind of life I want to lead.

At 9:50, I’m pretty much done with my cleaning, all my bar supplies are put in their proper home, ready for the next shift. I hear the front door open, four people come strolling in. I look at my watch. Damn. 10 minutes before close. They sit down, the server approaches them, they order. The server goes to the terminal, punches in the order. I look over at the kitchen, the main chef is shaking his head. Of course, he wants to get out of here. Like I do.

The server says to me, got four cocktails coming in for you.

I grumble, oh man! Five minutes before close. I got all my shit put away, and…

He stares me down with a forceful gaze, then says, I’m sorry.

I thought you liked money.

I sputter, But…I….uh….der….

I put my head down,

And make the damn drinks.

-CC

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I’m behind the bar, doing my thing, somewhat slow, a couple people at the bar. I get to chatting with this guy. Interesting fellow. I would describe him endearingly as a dick. The tables turned, he gave me shit. I screwed up on pouring the wrong beer, and he didn’t let it go, saying, first day? After much un-funny ribbing, I say to him, you don’t have a lot of insecure friends, do you? He says, yeah. We all stab each other in the back. That’s what everybody does in the business.

I find out he’s a big producer for ESPN. Traveling to Iowa City to run a Iowa Hawks game, then off to Vegas for another game, then off to blah, blah, blah. A real jet-setter.

I say, you know, I just can’t really get into sports. I feel like Will Ferrell in Zoolander when he says about Derek Zoolander’s famous looks, Blue Steel? Ferrari? Le Tigra? They’re the same face! Doesn’t anybody notice this?!? I FEEL LIKE I’M TAKING CRAZY PILLS!!! I mean, it’s guys throwing a ball around. And they make it into such a BIG DEAL.

He says, comically, Shhh-shhhhh-shhhh. Keep your voice down.

I have a big house on a golf course because of it.

-CC

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I get in early on Friday to the restaurant to start setting up. I had been “called off” the night before because it was expected to be slow. I see one of the servers that had worked the night before. Hey, man. How you doing? …Good, good. So…how did last night turn out?

He takes a pause, then says,

It was the kind of night that made me question my life’s choices.

That slow, huh?

He nods, says, yeah.

Later that night, I’m standing behind the bar, trying not to fall asleep standing up. This cold. Nobody wants to leave their house, and I don’t blame them. The same server walks up to the terminal to put in an order. He prints the receipt, starts walking towards me. Oh the Heaven’s open up. A cocktail to make! I almost start salivating, excited for the prospect to make a drink. Instead of standing there, making my thumb smell from being up my bum.

He hands me the receipt. Will it say a Bannerman’s Arsenal, perhaps? My favorite drink to make. Or perhaps a Noho Sour, a more complicated drink to make that will take me a whole minute to make?

I look down at the receipt, it says, OPEN DRINK. And then under that, in NOTES, it says,

PSYCH.

Yep. One of those nights.

-CC

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I’m behind the bar, mid-shift, my manager comes up to me, stands there, surveys the room. You know, I really like this guy. He’s super-reserved, somewhat quiet, but has a dry sense of humor I appreciate.

Hey, man. I’ve got a question for you.

He says, shoot.

I say, have you ever worked on something, like a project, maybe a song. Let’s say for over 20 YEARS. Finally you’re done with it. You’re so excited about it. You send it to your friend, maybe your MANAGER, and then NOTHING. No comment. Not ONE WORD. Like “good job” or a “nice”. NOTHING.

He smiles that smile, says casually, conservatively, oh, your reel? Yeah…good. Had a lot of variance.

On a side note, for the musicians out there, have you ever written a song, recorded it, then your buddy says, let’s hear it. You’re excited, you push play, then 1/3 of the way through, THEY START TALKING. It’s like, shut the fuck up, dude. LISTEN TO THE SONG. I don’t want you to even BREATHE while it’s playing. Not your blah, blah, blah all the way thru the song.

For my followers who receive my stories, please go to fromthebar.me to watch my new actor’s reel. And a hearty thank you in advance goes to my mom for the one comment.

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It’s nearing the end of the night, New Year’s Day, I’m bartending at my hotel gig. Everybody’s safe up in their rooms, lobby’s empty, cheesy music playing over the lobby speakers.

I look over, and the game on tv has finished. The head of the corporation that is hosting the bowl is presenting a trophy to the head coach of the winning team.

“We felt that both teams played great, but TONIGHT, you earned this trophy, Coach. Yard by yard. Inch by INCH.”

The crowd goes wild, the confetti explodes everywhere, flying like multi-colored snowflakes in the air.

Now I believe strongly tonight right now sure I could change my mind in an hour but RIGHT NOW I believe there are only TWO TYPES of people in the World.

Type 1: Oh, look…they’re flying the blue and red confetti at the end of the game. What a beautiful, celebratory sight, perfectly adding to a joyous night.

Type 2: Damn…. that’s a lot of confetti. Glad I’m not gonna have to clean that shit up.

Type 2 is only reserved for people that have had to clean up confetti at the end of the night, and after that experience, will never ever be able to appreciate the joyous nature of confetti. Only the pain in the ass part that goes along with the aftermath of confetti falling.